Projectile or cartridge injector for automatic weapons employing magazines

ABSTRACT

There is described a cartridge injector assembly which serves to properly position the next cartridge to be inserted into a firing chamber of a weapon. The injector includes a moveable arm which is caused to coact with a cartridge just beneath the next cartridge and forces that cartridge and therefore the next cartridge into a position to assure that the cartridge will, in fact be properly inserted. This is accomplished by a slotted magazine, which slot accomodates the moveable injector arm and which arm is forced into the magazine during the return of the weapon to a rest position from a recoil position after a firing.

Frisoli 1 June 24, 1975 PROJECTILE OR CARTRIDGE INJECTOR FOR AUTOMATIC WEAPONS EMPLOYING MAGAZINES [76] Inventor: David M. Frisoli, 2 Homestead Rd., Edison, NJ. 08817 22 Filed: Oct. 9, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 404,518

[52] US. Cl. 42/7; 42/18; 42/50; 89/33 B [51] Int. CL: F41C 13/00; F41C 25/02 [58] Field of Search 42/7, 50, 17, 18; 89/195-197, 33 B, 33 BA, 33 BB, 33 BC [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,403,623 l/1922 Payne 89/33 BB 2,379,451 7/1945 Nelson 89/33 C 2,403,306 7/1946 Sampson et al... 2,405,207 8/1946 Green 2,887,808 5/1959 Janson et a1. 42/17 4/ 1965 Menneking et a1. 42/50 7/1969 Stoner 89/33 C [5 7] ABSTRACT There is described a cartridge injector assembly which serves to properly position the next cartridge to be in serted into a firing chamber of a weapon. The injector includes a moveable arm which is caused to coact with a cartridge just beneath the next cartridge and forces that cartridge and therefore the next cartridge into a position to assure that the cartridge will, in fact be properly inserted. This is accomplished by a slotted magazine, which slot accomodates the moveable injector arm and which arm is forced into the magazine during the return of the Weapon to a rest position from a recoil position after a firing.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 24 I975 SHEET A J 50mg mm I PROJECTILE OR CARTRIDGE INJECTOR FOR AUTOMATIC WEAPONS EMPLOYING MAGAZINES BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to automatic weapons and more particularly to automatic injection devices for projectiles fired from such weapons.

There presently exists a wide variety of automatic weapons, capable of firing a given number of bullets during a rather short interval. Such weapons can fire a number of rounds in quick succession, all the functions of firing and reloading being performed by the weapon itself. These include firing the cartridge, withdrawing the bolt, ejecting the spent cartridge, cocking the hammer, forcing the bolt forward and inserting or injecting a fresh cartridge into the firing chamber to ready the next shot.

The energy to perform these functions is provided in certain weapons by the pressure of the gas produced by the firing of the cartridges or in other cases, by the recoil of the weapon.

Such weapons may be rifles or pistols and as such inelude a cartridge case or magazine. The magazine contains the loaded cartridge which will be automatically fired. A typical magazine may include six or more loaded cartridges and a spring. The spring is com pressed when the magazine is fully loaded and serves to force the next cartridge upwards so that after firing, a loaded bullet can automatically be inserted into the firing chamber during the automatic cycling procedure indicated above.

Due to the fact that the magazines are interchangeable, the size and shape of the cartridges vary and the spring is non-linear, one may experience difficulty in inserting a new cartridge into the firing chamber of the weapon. The problem can arise because the cartridge sometimes does not seat properly and hence instead of being properly positioned in the firing chamber, it can be inserted almost vertically, thus causing a jam and failure of the weapon. Other times, the cartridge is not pushed up high enough by the spring and no cartridge is inserted into the chamber.

To attempt to circumvent these problems, prior art automatic weapons, such as, for example, certain automatic .45 caliber pistols include what is referred to as a feed ramp.

The feed ramp is an inclined plane and is present at the start of the guns barrel or muzzle. The inclined feed ramp is located with respect to the magazine, such that a bullet to be injected into the chamber has its nose or front end positioned at the base of the ramp and when it is pushed into position by the return of the breech block or elsewise, it slides up the ramp. The ramp; thus attempts to prevent the bullet from maintaining a vertical position to thus jam the weapon.

In any event, this ramp mechanism does not so function in all instances, and the above described jam can still take place.

Furthermore, it is well known that the longer the barrel of a gun, the greater the velocity that will be imparted to the bullet as fired.

The feed ramp precedes the start of the barrel and is not in any way associated with bullet velocity but merely serves to assure bullet positioning prior to insertion into the firing chamber. In this manner, effective barrel length is wasted due to the inclusion of the feed ramp; while, the feed ramp depending upon the cartridge, its spring and the number of bullets does not solve the problems it was designed to.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved injector system for an automatic weapon, which system serves to eliminate the requirement for a feed ramp as existing in the prior art.

Another object is to provide a new and improved cartridge magazine to be used in conjunction with the improved injection apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An automatic weapon of the type employing a magazine for holding a number of stacked cartridges to be fired in succession, is of the type exhibiting a movement from a recoil position to a rest position after a firing of one of said cartridges, in combination with said weapon, is apparatus for positioning the one of said cartridges to be next fired for insertion into the firing chamber of said weapon during said movement from said recoil to said rest position comprising injector means activated by said movement and adapted to coact with a predetermined cartridge during said movement to force said one cartridge to assume an injection necessary for proper insertion into said chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES FIG. 1 A is a side view of a cartridge magazine according to this invention.

FIG. 1 B is a front cross-sectional view of the magazine of FIG. 1 A showing a injector arm in a rest position according to this invention.

FIG. 1 C is a front cross sectional view of the magazine and injector arm in an injector position.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a semiautomatic weapon employing injector apparatus according to this invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the weapon shown in FIG. 2 depicting an injection mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES Before describing the Figures, it is indicated that the weapon to be described is a hand-held automatic weapon, capable of firing relatively large size cartridges such as those ofa .45 caliber. While the weapon shown employs a moveable slide mechanism, which system is the subject matter of my copending application entitled SEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOL EMPLOYING A PIV- OTALLY, SLIDEABLE MEMBER, Ser. No. 383,592 and filed on July 30, 1973, it is apparent that the injector mechanism can be used with other types of automatic weapons, including gas operated or recoil operated whereby the barrel moves or elsewise.

FIG. 1 A shows a side view of a magazine or cartridge case 10 containing, by way of example, seven loaded cartridges. The magazine 10 appears relatively conventional in that it includes a spring 11 which is compressed and serves to push the cartridges upwards into the position occupied by cartridge 12 shown at the top of the magazine 10. The magazine 10 includes a slot 14 on the side surface thereof. The slot 14 is pertinent to this invention and is not included in or known in any prior magazines that are presently available. It is this slot 14, which causes the magazine 10 to differ substantially from those of the prior art.

As can be seen, the slot 14 as positioned on the sur face of the magazine is located between the normal resting place of the second cartridge 15 and the third cartridge 16.

As is shown in FIGS. 1 A and 1 B, the cartridges, when in the magazine seat one upon the other. The top cartridge 12 is the next to be fired and then 15 and so The cartridges, as indicated, are forced upward due to the action of the compressed cartridge spring 11. It is desired that the cartridge 12 has its front end or nose pointing slightly upward and positioned as shown by line 20. This is necessary to permit the cartridge 12 to be pushed properly into the firing chamber of the weapon.

In any event, the position assumed by the cartridge 12 can undesireably be quite different due to many factors. First the cartridges beneath 12 may be deformed due to expansion of the shell casing as in the case of repacked cartridges, due to machine tolerances in manufacturing, due to loss of the spring 11 resiliency and other factors including the cartridge shape.

In any event, if the cartridge 12 is not properly positioned it will not be drawn into the firing chamber properly and hence cause a jam or malfunction of the weapon.

As indicated, the slot 14 is positioned between the cartridge 15 and cartridge 16.

FIG. 1 B shows a front cross sectional view of the cartridge assembly with an injector arm 21 in a rest position or mode. As will be explained the injector arm 21 is forced into the slot 14 of the magazine prior to moving the next bullet or cartridge as 12 into the firing chamber.

FIG. 1 C shows the action desired by moving the arm 21 into contact with the second cartridge 15, or that beneath the next to be fired cartridge 12.

As can be seen from FIG. 1 C, the arm 21 is forced into slot 14 wherein it pushes against the side of the cartridge case of bullet 15. This forces the bullet to be pushed and tilted as desired. Since bullet or cartridge 12 rests upon 15 it too will be so inclined and tilted, thus being forced to assume a desired position shortly prior to injection of cartridge 12 into the firing chamber of the weapon.

In summation it is understood that the arm 21 can be in any one of two positions, evidenced by a REST MODE (FIG. 1 B) or an INJECTION MODE (FIG. 1 C). It is also understood that the arm 21 is in the REST mode for the majority of time. The desired operation to cause movement of the arm 21 between the desired positions or modes will now be described.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown an automatic weapon 30; and of the type shown and described in detail in my above-noted copending application. This type of action provides automation mainly due to the recoil movement ofa top slide member 31. The gun 30 desireably has a stationary barrel and recoil is associated with a moveable slide member as 31.

The gun has a handle portion 32 into which a magazine 10 is inserted. There is shown a cartridge 33 in the barrel firing chamber. It is noted that the front of the barrel 34 or that portion which would normally have an inclined firing ramp (shown as 35 for purposes of clarity only) is eliminated and hence the bullet 33 is actually positioned in a ready to fire position, whereas if a ramp 35 were used, this, as seen, would not be accomplished. The frame of the weapon has a slot 38 positioned to be aligned with a slot as 14 in the magazine 10. The injector apparatus 40 is shown mounted on the frame of the weapon and can be covered or otherwise hidden.

Basically the injector apparatus 40 consists of the following units. The injector arm 21 as further shown in FIGS. 1 B and 1 C is positioned as indicated in a rest mode (1 B) and an injector mode (1 C). The injector arm 21 is coupled to a pivot mount 41 which is activated by a rocker arm or rocker cam 42. The rocker arm 42 has a flanged portion 43 which is in contact with an injector cam 44. The injector cam 44 is coupled to the rocker arm 42 by means of a steel wire spring 45. The rocker arm 42 is pivotally mounted on the frame by means of a pivot point means 46. The injector cam 44 is also pivotally mounted by means of a pivot rod 47 which rides in a cam slot 48. As indicated, the slide portion 31 of the weapon moves in the recoil direction when the weapon is fired. The slide includes a projection or tab 50 which as will be explained, coacts with the injector cam 44 during recoil and return and causes the injector arm 21 to be pushed into its INJECTION MODE position indicated in FIG. 1 C.

FIG. 3 shows the position of the slide returning from recoil with the projection 50 coacting with the injector cam 44 to cause the arm 21 to enter the cartridge case via the slots 38 and 14, thus pushing the cartridge beneath the one to be injected to permit the breech block 55 to positively push the bullet 51 into the barrel firing chamber. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the slide 31 has moved to uncover a portion of the barrel and is now being returned to the position shown in FIG. 1 by means of a return spring not shown, but clearly described in my copending application.

It is noted that the slide 31 is returning back in the direction of arrow 52 and moved, prior to this, further back. It is therefore apparent that during the recoil movement (as evidenced by arrow 53), the tab already moved across the injector cam 44 surface. It is also noted that this coaction was afforded by the inclined surface of the projection or tab 50 and as will be explained, did not move the injector arm into slot 38 or 14 associated with the cartridge. What occurs during recoil movement (arrow 53) is that the injector cam 44 is pushed downwardly in its slot due to the restraining pin by the inclined surface of tab 50. This downward movement does not cause the rocker arm to move. While the cam 44 is pushed down, it rides along the surface of the rocker arm which remains stationary as it is otherwise constrained. Thus, the injector arm 21 does not move during travel shown by arrow 53 in the recoil direction.

Now during the return of the slide 31 caused by a return spring, and in the direction shown by arrow 52 (RETURN), the tab 50, again contacts the injector cam surface 44. This action is shown clearly in FIG. 3. The injection cam is now caused to rotate or move clockwise, the extended tip end of the cam 44 pushes against the abuttment or flange 43 of the rocker arm 42. This causes the rocker arm to be pushed downwardly but as it is pivotally mounted, it rotates counter clockwise. The rotating of the rocker arm pushes the injector arm 21 into the slot 38 of the frame and therefore into the slot 14 and in contact with the cartridge case of that cartridge as 15, shown in FIG. 1 A. Thus, the arm 21 pushes the cartridge 15 to orient it properly and hence positions the next cartridge as 51 properly.

Thus, the breech block as moving, will optimunly contact and push cartridge .51 into the barrel.

It is noted that the length of the bottom surface of tab 50 determines the amount of time the arm 21 is pushing or positioning the cartridge and this is the exact time in which injection is to take place.

It is also noted that when there is only one bullet in the magazine, that the arm 21 will not have a surface to push on. In any event, this is the most uncritical condition as the case of one bullet remaining is no prob lem. The reason for this is that the bullet is not resting upon another bullet, which may be deformed, the spring associated with the cartridge case is relatively unloaded and hence the single cartridge has to be properly positioned. The problem above described is compounded significantly when a full magazine is' used.

It is also noted that the only time the injector arm is pushed or forced into the cartridge is when the tab 50, traveling in the return direction is in contact with the injector cam 44, and only during the length of the tab 50. This is important to note as the user can always remove the magazine as in a conventional weapon for practically all slide and gun positions.

As previously indicated, the problem is attendant in almost any type of firing arm or automatic weapon which uses a magazine. The injector described is typical and can be utilized and adapted in any such weapon. For example, if the barrel moves rather than the slide, one need only have a tab as 50 or an equivalent mounted to activate the injector assembly 40 during barrel return. Other modifications will become apparent for any type of automatic weapon, to those skilled in the art and hence, such modifications are considered to be encompassed within the breadth and scope of the claims as presented herein.

1 claim:

1. In an automatic firearm of the type employing a magazine for holding a number of stacked cartridges to be fired in succession, said magazine including a spring for forcing said cartridges toward a firing chamber of said firearm, said firearm exhibiting a movement from a recoil position to a rest position after a firing of one of said cartridges, in combination therewith apparatus for positioning those of said cartridges to be next fired for insertion into the firing chamber of said firearm during said movement from said recoil to said rest position, comprising:

a. means activated by said movement and adapted to coact with a predetermined cartridge during said movement to force said one cartridge to assume an injection position necessary for proper insertion into said chamber, said means including a moveable arm capable of moving in a direction into said magazine for pushing said predetermined cartridge upwardly prior to injection of the cartridge into said firing chamber off said firearm.

2. An automatic firearm of the type including a frame assembly including a barrel and a handle portion, said firearm of the type exhibiting a movement from a recoil position to a rest position after a firing, said firearm capable of firing a plurality of cartridges contained in a magazine accommodating section of said firearm, the improvement therewith of apparatus for injecting a next to be fired cartridge in a firing chamber of said firearm during said movement, comprising:

a. a magazine for storing a plurality of cartridges in a stacked configuration one above the other from a first to a last cartridge, said magazine being of a rectangular configuration with an open top end and a closed bottom end, said first cartridge being exposed at said top end by spring means included in said magazine and operating to push upwardly on said last cartridge and therefore said first cartridge, said magazine further having a slot in a sidewall thereof which slot as positioned permits access to a position of one of said cartridges; said magazine adapted to be contained within said accommodating section of said firearm,

b. an injector arm assembly pivotally mounted on the frame assembly of said firearm in close proximity to said magazine accommodating section, and capable of being operated in a first mode where it can move into said magazine slot and in a secorid'mode where it is removed from said magazine slot, and

c. means coupled to said injector arm and responsive to the movement of said firearm from said recoil to said rest position to cause said arm to operate in said first mode to thereby coact with said position of one of said cartridges to position the same to cause said first cartridge to assume a desired injection position.

3. The firearm according to claim 2 wherein said firearm is of the type including a moveable slide member;

which member moves from a recoil position to a rest position after a firing of said firearm.

4. The firearm according to claim 3 wherein said means coupled to said injector arm is responsive to a tab securely fastened to said slide member and operative to coact with said arm assembly during said movement to cause said arm to operate in said first mode.

5. In a semi-automatic firearm of the type including a frame assembly, a barrel, a grip assembly and moveable member mounted on said frame assembly and operative during firing to move to a recoil position and thence back to a firing position, said grip assembly including a magazine accommodating hollow for containing a cartridge magazine capable of storing a plurality of cartridges to be fired and arranged in a stacked relation one above the other from a first one to a last one, said magazine having an opened top whereby said first cartridge is in a position to be inserted into said barrel during said movement from said recoil to said firing position, the combination including apparatus for injecting said first cartridge into said barrel in a predesired position to assure proper injection, comprising:

a. a selectively activated injector assembly coupled to said frame assembly and capable of operating in a first mode for coacting with one of said cartridges in said magazine and in a second mode for eliminating any coaction,

b. a tab rigidly secured to said moveable member and adapted to coact with said selectively activated injector assembly during said movement from said recoil to said firing position to operate said injector assembly in said first mode, whereby said cartridge as coacted is positioned by said injector assembly to cause all cartridges above the same to assume said predesired injection position.

6. The firearm according to claim 5 wherein said selectively activated injector assembly comprises:

a. an injector cam pivotally mounted on said frame assembly and having a cam surface for coacting with said tab secured to said moveable member,

7 8 b. a rocker arm mounted on said frame assembly and d. means coupled to said moveable member for pivhavmg an actuatmg flange in contact w1th sald sur- Cling Said cam during Said movement whereby said face of said cam,

c. a reciprocating injector arm coupled to said rocker arm and adjusted to move into coaction with said 5 cartridge when operated by said rocker arm,

rocker arm rotates to move said injector arm into coaction with said cartridge. 

1. In an automatic firearm of the type employing a magazine for holding a number of stacked cartridges to be fired in succession, said magazine including a spring for forcing said cartridges toward a firing chamber of said firearm, said firearm exhibiting a movement from a recoil position to a rest position after a firing of one of said cartridges, in combination therewith apparatus for positioning those of said cartridges to be next fired for insertion into the firing chamber of said firearm during said movement from said recoil to said rest position, comprising: a. means activated by said movement and adapted to coact with a predetermined cartridge during said movement to force said one cartridge to assume an injection position necessary for proper insertion into said chamber, said means including a moveable arm capable of moving in a direction into said magazine for pushing said predetermined cartridge upwardly prior to injection of the cartridge into said firing chamber off said firearm.
 2. An automatic firearm of the type including a frame assembly including a barrel and a handle portion, said firearm of the type exhibiting a movement from a recoil position to a rest position after a firing, said firearm capable of firing a plurality of cartridges contained in a magazine accommodating section of said firearm, the improvement therewith of apparatus for injecting a next to be fired cartridge in a firing chamber of said firearm during said movement, comprising: a. a magazine for storing a plurality of cartridges in a stacked configuration one above the other from a first to a last cartridge, said magazine being of a rectangular configuration with an open top end and a closed bottom end, said first cartridge being exposed at said top end by spring means included in said magazine and operating to push upwardly on said last cartridge and therefore said first cartridge, said magazine further having a slot in a sidewall thereof which slot as positioned permits access to a position of one of said cartridges; said magazine adapted to be contained within said accommodating section of said firearm, b. an injector arm assembly pivotally mounted on the frame assembly of said firearm in close proximity to said magazine accommodating section, and capable of being operated in a first mode where it can move into said magazine slot and in a second mode where it is removed from said magazine slot, and c. means coupled to said injector arm and responsive to the movement of said firearm from said recoil to said rest position to cause said arm to operate in said first mode to thereby coact with said position of one of said cartridges to position the same to cause said first cartridge to assume a desired injection position.
 3. The firearm according to claim 2 wherein said firearm is of the type including a moveable slide member; which member moves from a recoil position to a rest position after a firing of said firearm.
 4. The firearm according to claim 3 wherein said means coupled to said injector arm is responsive to a tab securely fastened to said slide member and operative to coact with said arm assembly during said movement to cause said arm to operate in said first mode.
 5. In a semi-automatic firearm of the type including a frame assembly, a barrel, a grip assembly and moveable member mounted on said frame assembly and operative during firing to move to a recoil position and thence back to a firing position, said grip assembly including a magazine accommodating hollow for containing a cartridge magazine capable of storing a plurality of cartridges to be fired and arranged iN a stacked relation one above the other from a first one to a last one, said magazine having an opened top whereby said first cartridge is in a position to be inserted into said barrel during said movement from said recoil to said firing position, the combination including apparatus for injecting said first cartridge into said barrel in a predesired position to assure proper injection, comprising: a. a selectively activated injector assembly coupled to said frame assembly and capable of operating in a first mode for coacting with one of said cartridges in said magazine and in a second mode for eliminating any coaction, b. a tab rigidly secured to said moveable member and adapted to coact with said selectively activated injector assembly during said movement from said recoil to said firing position to operate said injector assembly in said first mode, whereby said cartridge as coacted is positioned by said injector assembly to cause all cartridges above the same to assume said predesired injection position.
 6. The firearm according to claim 5 wherein said selectively activated injector assembly comprises: a. an injector cam pivotally mounted on said frame assembly and having a cam surface for coacting with said tab secured to said moveable member, b. a rocker arm mounted on said frame assembly and having an actuating flange in contact with said surface of said cam, c. a reciprocating injector arm coupled to said rocker arm and adjusted to move into coaction with said cartridge when operated by said rocker arm, d. means coupled to said moveable member for pivoting said cam during said movement whereby said rocker arm rotates to move said injector arm into coaction with said cartridge. 